Blow By Blow's impressive victory in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle may have been trainer Gordon Elliott's eighth success of The Festival 2018 and owner Michael O'Leary (Gigginstown House Stud)'s seventh, but it was a first Festival win for jockey Donagh Meyler.

Seven-year-old Blow By Blow was in front all the way and won by five lengths at odds of 11/1.

The 22-year-old, who works for Elliott one day a week and for Tony Martin three days a week, said: "To be fair, the horse has a Grade One win under his belt [in a bumper at the Punchestown Festival in 2016] and proper form. He was in his comfort zone all the way today. They came to me at the second-last and he found again. It's brilliant - I'm stuck for a few words!

"I thought he would have an each-way chance, but I didn't think I would ever ride a winner round Cheltenham, and here we are. I've had a few rides here when I was claiming five and seven pounds. I grew up watching the likes of Ruby and Davy coming up the hill here and riding the back of the sofa, but to win here is brilliant.

"I grew up hunting in Kilkenny and doing a bit of pony racing - it gives Irish lads a great start."

Blow By Blow's owner Michael O'Leary commented: "This horse has gradually improved and improved, but we thought his ground had gone today. It was a remarkable ride by Donagh Meyler; the last thing you do here is go from the front all the way around! We expected him to blow up at the top of the hill."

Asked how he felt about his seven winners this week, which has won him the NetJets Leading Owner Award, he said: "It's absolutely surreal. If I had had two or three winners it would have been a fantastic week. I didn't think we'd have any today, given we had three yesterday and five for the week [before today]. There's going to be a terrible run of luck coming - we'll have a blank next year and for the next two or three years! So we are going to enjoy this. It's been a phenomenal week."

He discussed the tremendous success of trainer Gordon Elliott, saying: "It is the most remarkable story in the training ranks in either Ireland or England. He has come from nowhere. He drove his own van; he made his name by bringing bad horses over to Ayr to win races. He has come from nowhere in a remarkably short period of time.

"He learnt at the feet of the master over here, Martin Pipe, and he was well taught. Martin revolutionised training here over many years; clearly Gordon picked it up and he and Willie are doing in Ireland what Martin did here for many years - they are dominating the game in Ireland and increasingly they are dominating the game in England too. They have been fortunate - they have a lot of very good owners and staff."